A finless porpoise died with a gentle smile on its face. A heartbroken staff member at an animal rescue center wept at the sad sight.

Yangtze finless porpoise, or locally known as river pig (jiang tun 江豚), is on the verge of extinction. Human activities, such as industrial wastewater discharge, fishing, transportation, and dam construction, are threatening the ecosystem of Yangtze River, the species’ natural habitat, and decimating the mammal. A recent census turned up just 1,800 Yangtze finless porpoises, and the porpoise will become extinct within 24 to 94 years if no protective measures are taken, according to National Geographic. (Picture picked from Sina Microblog)